Mutual Interest Between Red Sox and Michael Young?
The Boston Red Sox did not have to pursue infielder Michael Young this off-season. Instead, Michael Young is pursuing the Boston Red Sox.
According to Peter Gammons, Young has contacted two American League teams, believed to be the Red Sox and their divisional rivals, the Baltimore Orioles. And there may be mutual interest between the 14-year veteran and the reigning World Series Champions.
Earlier this week it was noted that the Red Sox are looking to add some depth to the left side of their infield. Hello Mr. Young.
A free-agent, Young has appealed to the Red Sox in year’s past including this past summer at the trade deadline before being dealt from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Los Angeles Dodgers. To bring Young into the fold at Fenway this time around won’t cost the Red Sox any prospects and he could be had on a one or two-year deal.
Talk about adding depth to the infield, Young would bring all of that and more given his ability to play third base or shortstop. An article on NESN also highlights that Young is considered to be a good teammate which would be an important quality for any free-agent that might walk through the gates at Yawkey Way.
Durability has been Young’s middle name throughout his career having stayed relatively healthy for the most part of his 14 seasons that was mainly spent with the Texas Rangers.
Sure, he’s 37-years old which always brings a concern of injury with the body more prone to break down, but if used as a platoon option at best or a reserve role for Will Middlebrooks and Xander Bogaerts, Young makes sense.
Signing Young would also allow the Red Sox to possibly walk away from Stephen Drew who may just get his multi-year deal that he’s seeking. There is belief that the Sox might offer Drew a 2-year deal but it’s doubtful that would be enough to bring him back to Boston.
The eight-time all-star, Young saw a slight dip in his offensive production last season but still maintains a career .300 batting average, a .346 OBP and a .787 OPS.
The current infield options for the Red Sox make sense with or without Stephen Drew who may just become expendable with the idea of signing Young. How he’d be used would be up to John Farrell, but there is no doubt that he would satisfy what Ben Cherington is hoping to accomplish when he says he’d like to add more depth.